7 Symptoms of Aphasia

Aphasia is a condition that may present itself for a number of different medical reasons, and understanding the causes, signs, and symptoms may help a sufferer know when to seek medical attention. Aphasia is language disorder and a unique condition in that it causes the sufferer to have difficulty understanding language, speaking with others, and reading, but it doesn't mean the sufferer is not smart or has become less intelligent due to the condition. Aphasia also doesn't impact the way a person thinks; it is a language disorder rather than a sign of mental deficiency.When brain damage occurs and aphasia results, a person may also suffer from related conditions like dysphagia, which is a problem swallowing or dysarthria, which is a muscle weakness inside the mouth. People who suffer from migraines may experience transient aphasia, which is a temporary occurrence of the condition that may come and go as the sufferer experiences the symptoms of a migraine aura. Abnormally functioning neurons may cause the problem to arise during a migraine. According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, aphasia is most commonly caused by a stroke, but brain damage of any type may cause it to occur.

1. Social Isolation

Resulting from an inability to communicate naturally, aphasia often results in social isolation. A research study published in 2013 aimed to track social connections and isolation for people suffering from aphasia. Researchers Candace P. Vickers and Darla K Hagge found that isolation occurred in all respondents to the study and that the incidence of isolation knew no boundaries as far as gender, social status, or other demographic labels were concerned. Most of the sufferers of the condition are adults, and participating in social situations becomes difficult without the ability to share ideas, communicate feelings, or make new connections and friends.Extreme social isolation may result in traumatic experiences like hallucinations and dementia, as well an increase in conditions like blood pressure and the increased likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. The basic functions of the body may experience significant harm with the development of disrupted sleeping patterns, poor verbal reasoning, short attention spans, and bad logical reasoning. Severe isolation can even interrupt a person's sense of time and result in permanent mental instability. Minor hallucinations that feature random lights and patterns in front of the eyes may graduate to full hallucinations of animals, people, and objects that don't exist. Individuals suffering from the condition must remain under the care of a medical professional to prevent extended bouts of social isolation.Next